Desktops forum: is it the right time to buy a computer or should i wait ?

You would be "waiting" forever. I have read through all of the responses to your question and while everyone who replies to a call for help thinks that the advice they have given is correct, it is not quite always so, or at least not quite accurate. I don't mean to offend anyone and while I'm sure that some of my advice has caused others to roll their eyes, the advice given by everyone is because it is what the people believe to be true, in their own experiences.
I agree with quite a bit of what was said but a lot of it will depend on how knowledgeable YOU are and how much experience YOU have, as to whether it will help you. First off, you need to decide how serious of a "gamer" you want to be or if you are just trying to "catch up" to the technology. If it is serious gaming that your after, I'm afraid you will never be up to date as games are created faster than the average person can afford to update their hardware to match. Also, for gaming, it is going to cost at lot more than if you are just using a computer for everyday "stuff", at least if your serious about gaming. You decide.
Next, the OS. I give those unafraid souls who go through the trials & tribulations of any new operating system great credit. Without them none of the bugs would be found and (if they can) fixed. I have used every OS since DOS 2.0 with the exception of ME and NT and I have always waited for at least a year (except with DOS) or longer, to wait for the bugs to be worked out (which has never really happened anyway). Right now I use XP Pro on my main system and Windows 98 SE on my other computers. MY reason for that is that I wanted XP for the video work capabilities and I like 98 the best, for ease of use (I configure XP to look like 98!). As for Vista, I won't even think about it for a year or two, if at all. One thing to bear in mind when buying a computer from a store is that 95% of the time (or higher), you only buy the RIGHTS to use the OS that has been pre-installed and do not get a system disk with the computer. And if you have your own disk at home already, you don't need it pre-installed anyway (along with most of the other crap that is installed).
I have also found that I can build a system cheaper than I can buy one, usually with some better features. Now, I realise that not everyone is comfortable with building their own but in MY EXPERIENCE, it is the best way to go. I always compare a deal from one of the big stores (the ones that always show the price AFTER your mail-in rebate), and then price out the same or comparable system from my supplier (www.ncix.com). The thing with buying one of these "deals", is that you have to ask yourself if you need all the extras that usually come along with it.
So, my advice to you, from MY EXPERIENCE, is to determine what you want to do right now with a computer, shop around at the bigger stores and go to the smaller computer stores as well, decide if you want to start to learn more and build one yourself, decide how much you want to spend to start and then get it. The biggest problem that one encounters is that no matter how "up-to-date" the hardware is that you get now, it will be "out-of date" within a few months. There is always something bigger, faster and "better" coming out, so it is virtually impossible to keep "up-to-date". There really isn't a "correct" answer to your question or a wrong answer for that matter. It just boils down to what you want and if you are willing to learn new things and to take some chances on your own abilities. What works for me will not always work for the next guy or gal and for every positive argument or suggestion there is always a negative one as well.
I could continue to go with the pros and cons of all the hardware, software, etc., but it really wouldn't help a lot if you don't understand all that is being said. Research is your best weapon. Best of luck and remember: there are no stupid questions if you do not know the answers!

The real question is, how much money do you want to spend on a computer now. Everyone wants to live out there on the bleeding edge of technology, but few of us can. You are in the unique position of living at a major change in technology. You could buy now and get the top of the line 32 bit PCs for a reasonable price, or (as I would advise) Waite a while, let the new 64 bit, dual core PCs come down in price, and buy one of them. Let Intel and AMD fight it out and buy the winner. The 64 bit is the future. I say look forward, because standing still is going backward. Remember, buy the best computer core (mother board, CPU, and memory) you can afford. you can always add to it as your finances permit.

in just few months by both Intel and AMD, that are not backwards compatible. For example, I understand Windows Vista is going to be 64 bit operating system (32 bit available? For how long?) and AMD is or has just lauched AM2 64 bit processor that needs a new motherboard to go with. It seems that in general graphics cards evolve faster than other hardware these days, but most of that processing power is really used only in the latest games.

At the moment there are not that much of software that can utilise 64 bit processors, especially dual core ones (and not too long we most likely see 4 core ones), but soon the situation may be that new software comes with two flavours for 32 and 64 bit processors. As Intel has stopped producing 32 it processors (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't think Microsoft produce or support Software for 32 bit machines much longer - especially with the lauch of Vista.

If your money is burning in your pocket, buy at least a computer with 64 bit processor. AMD's socket 939 is the ''latest'' of old architecture but you can buy the cheapest 64 bit processor now and wait for the dual core processors to drop prices further - a simple BIOS upgrade will allow the change.

OR you could just buy a new motherboard kit (motherboard, processor and RAM) and keep the rest of the hardware from your old system, giving you a litle extra towards a best graphics card you can afford. Many companies offer special price for these kits and it guarantees that the hardware will be compatible. Make sure the motherboard has PCI Express port for the graphics card, for ''future proofing''.

I am pretty much of a novice when it comes to computers, but if I can do a simple upgrade, anyone can! There is very little that go wrong these days, as long as you have done your homework about compatibility of a few things, and there is plenty of help availale on internet. Usually vendors are also happy to give you advice if there is a known problem with the compatibility of your chosen componenets. With upgrading/building your systemm yourself, there is also the satisfaction of knowing the innards of your computer and you are not tied to one sellers choice. It also allows you to spread the cost, meaning that you can afford better quality than if you bought the whole system all at once. Formatting a hard disk, maybe even installing OS can be a bit daunting but you could pay a small sum for a friendly computer repair shop to do this for you, if you cannot enlist a friend.

As for future proofing, there is no such thing! My rule of thumb is to buy the best system you can afford, for your needs now.

So far I have an aging computer; it's not as aged as many but there are some problems I dispise... namely the burnt-out RAM slot on my 4-year-old motherboard. The board is no longer manufactured, 2.0 ghz celerons are obsolete, as is my graphics card, a nVidia FX5200. Tbough i don't need a new PC right-out, I know what I will need. I will probebly utilize new technologies, such as the mobile 64bit processors, and upgradable laptop graphics cards. I also don't want some dull little notebook, so I'm choosing a more expensive, high-end manufacturer, Alienware. Though many people avoid alienware, because of prices and bad reviews, remember they test the machine more than other companies will test their machines. This leads to a more stable system, which is a VERY good thing!

However, I know my requirements for what I do, and I have calculated release times on new software based on past releases. For example, The Sims 2 was released in 2004, each EP about 9 monthes later. However, the Sims 1 was released in 1999. This leads me to believe that, if they stay on scedule, The Sims 3 should be released by 2009. I'm going away to college in 2009, so it's a no-brainer that I choose to go with a less expensive XP machine, which I will keep for Ubuntu Linux when XP is obsolete. Also, remember popular release dates. 98SE, very popular, was released in 1998, replaced totally by XP in 2004. THat is a 6 year life. Xp is on year 3 right now, half through it's reign.

The choice is yours. I explained how I came about mine.

I, like a lot of folks, watched the ads for computers for a long time and just couldn't get a feel for the right time to buy because you don't have to be a genius to see computers selling for a few hundred dollars less today than they were a year ago, but the reality is that if you really want a computer, you're going to have to get your feet wet sooner or later and the march of technology shows no signs of slowing down.

I wasn't completely clueless when I went to buy my computer because I had at least been using them at work and at school for nearly two decades, but I was somewhat overwhelmed when I began to look at all the options and had to consider specifications that had never entered my mind before.

So, I started my computer shopping asking salespeople what would be the right computer for me because I'm really only want it for this and I really will never do that and the response I got was that no one could really make recommendations on that kind of information, which confused me a little.

Then I remembered the good old days of audiophile stereo component systems and how I used to discourage others from buying systems that were ''good enough.'' The reason being that if you've been listening to your music on a $50 record player, you really don't know what your expectations will be like when you finally spend a few hundred on a system that seems ''good enough.'' I'd always say go a few notches higher than what is ''good enough'' and make sure you have enough flexibility to accommodate practical upgrades along the way.

That put it in perspective for me and I went back to shopping with a much better frame of mind. No longer was I looking for the computer that was right for me on that day, but the computer that would be right for me two years later.

I didn't buy the most expensive one in the house, but I did get the one just below it and I haven't been sorry. Yeah, I can buy a computer with specs about the same as mine for a few hundred dollars less today, but I have been using my computer for these last two year and not just reading computer reviews and browsing computer stores and I'm confident that my system will accommodate Vista. I've got two memory slots still open.

So, the lesson in this rambling tale is this. Most of us are pretty knowledgeable about something, be it motorcycles, automobiles, stereo systems, or real estate. I think the same principles apply. When you're new to something, you're always afraid of buying too much, but in a world of advancing technology, that is almost impossible because someone is already writing software or designing hardware to make the current state of the art mainstream.

You probably don't need the best, but the least won't satisfy you for long. That mindset and the size of your pocketbook should be a good barometer. Also, try to know what's coming down the pike before you buy, but others have written about that already.

how often you plan to upgrade. If the answer is every 1-2 years, I'd go for the ''just enough'' option to get most bang for your bucks and upgrade the system as your needs grow. If you don't want to upgrade until your system is obsolete, buy the newest, fastest and most powerful technology you can afford and pray the sofware will still support reasonably new software (or you don't need new programs) till the end of your machines life. If you plan to use your machine for college or work, ask from your organisation/teachers what software do you need, as this should help you to determine at least the minimum specs. Students often qualify for discounts and your work place might have a similar discount or financing scheme; there's no harm asking.

My Pentium 2 runs all the office software and many other programs sold still in 2000 (and few even now): I don't need most of the functions of the newer versions and don't see why I should pay for them - most of my programs are free, older versions of the same, curtesy of magazine disks. The programs are often easier to learn because they are simpler, compared to their bloated upgrades. Like always, its not what you've got but what you do with it that matters - at least this is true most of the time.

My driving teacher said that he buys a new car every year: that way he pays only a little extra money each time, after selling his ''old'' one.

I suppose same logic can be applied for computers, only the return for a few months old computer is most likely less: new computer technology becomes an old hat very rapidly and only the rich and obsessive gamers buy the newest hardware. Granted, some professionals do make use of very powerful, maybe specialised technology (engineers, architects, designers, special effects guys) but they often get tax relief and other benefits through their comapny. Computers have become so powerful that us lesser mortals are hard pressed to utilise it all.

If you plan to buy a laptop, remember that some of the components are not upgradeable as easily as a PC or not at all. Although the same principle of frequency of upgrade versus cost applies, there are also other things to consider, like battery life and portablility.

Go for a new computer ONLY if you are having a custom shop build it for you, OR you plan to build a bare bones kit. Otherwise, wait till the new computers with "Vista" arrive and get a free new OS. XP will go into extended support this December so why buy "off the shelf" when XP has laess than a year of life left?

In the frustrating and hype-filled world of computers it's hard to tell when to buy. But a 5 year old machine is ripe for replacement. You should just be careful to make sure it is future-proofed because the next version of Windows -- Windows Vista -- demands a lot of firepower.

So the savvy thing to do is to buy a computer with a motherboard that uses AMD Athlon 64 bit processors (939 pin variety) that will also accept AMD's dual core processors (Athlon 64 X2). The dual cores are prohibitively expensive for most folks now; but they do use the same motherboards as the single core (in a huge number of instances -- nearly every Asus 939-pin motherboard (for AMD processors) supports both single and dual core processors. Intel motherboards support only single core or dual core, not both. So you'd need a new motherboard to later move up to dual core if you go the Intel route -- and you want to avoid that since Microsoft will require you to buy a new copy of Windows XP (or Vista) when you change the motherboard (and Windows came installed on your computer) -- nasty practice, but true.

Also, be sure to get a Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive of at least 250 GB in size, DVD drive (make sure it is IDE, not SATA because with a lot of motherboards you cannot boot from a SATA DVD or CD drive; at least 1 GB of RAM (Windows Vista, due out late this fall, will work best with 2 GB). And I would avoid any manufacturer that uses a lot of proprietary parts like Dell does.

Anytime after a year it ''can'' be time to upgrade to a new system. Although we have built thousands of pc's and servers (combined) over the years, I still use an AMD 1.4G, 512MB/PC2100, 40Gx2/RAID0, 46G/Slave, cd burner, ATI ''original'' Radeon 64MBDDR, along with floppy/etc. and many USB components running Win2KPro. It performs comparably with many new systems that are supposed to be ''much faster'' and are 1.5 to 2 times as many MHZ. Other setup: Intel 850mhz/512 cache Slot1, 512MB/PC133, 40G, cd burner, ATI ''original'' Radeon 32MBDDR, along with a floppy/etc. and many USB components running Win2KPro. Still faster than most Celeron systems below 1.7. It's all in quality parts and proper configuration. By the end of this year, the new version (all different combos available in the USA) of Windows will (supposed to be) released. It's wise to AVOID any use of the new product until a minimum of 9 months has passed. Although bragged up to be so great, there are major areas of weaknesses that need to be strengthened between the hardware manufacturers and MS. Sit back and wait a year...........Besides the new Windows IS a resource hog and will need a big power supply along with some heavy-hitting hardware to operate for what it is intended( a 400w or higher power supply, ''minimum'' 512MB FAST memory; preferably 1G, ''minimum'' 128MB videocard; preferably 256MB, at least 64 bit cpu). This is top-end gear that is being recommended for the ''average'' home user. Here's an example of an inexpensive (you should note that ANY quality, high-midrange to high-end systems are NOT cheap anymore) system that should last you long enough (maybe another 3-5 years, who knows) to upgrade and not break the bank yet still have a screamin' demon system:

ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard $63.90

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail $168.00

OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail $166.44

Seagate NL35 ST3250823NS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive $125.00

SAPPHIRE 100106SR-RD Radeon X850XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $199.00

A ''minimum'' power supply (in my reasoning):

Reliable 400 Watt Dual 12V Rail ATX12V 2.01 Power Supply with 20 and 24-pin Connectors
StarTech.com ID: ATX2POWER400 as low as $46.95

$769.29 not including s/h and some misc. hardware... (I figured you needed to get a glimpse of a decent midrange power pc base component profile)......

Toss in an Inwin or Enlight case (with a front intake fan/extra rear/exhaust fan), CD burner(Lite-On), DVD burner(Lite-On), extra hard drive if you wish, your ''old'' floppy (and burner if you would rather instead of purchasing a new one), ''maybe'' a plug-in soundcard, extra USB/Firewire ports and (although I still prefer Win2KPro-stable, stable, stable OS) a copy of Win XP Pro. This system would be stable (well matched/compatible components), fast and dependable(quality components). In fact,I may just use these same specs to build my daughter's new system!!!!!!!!!

Is this your idea of the system the original poster should buy and the prices to be expected, or are you advertising something?

If you are asking if you should buy a computer you probably could use one. Prices have never been lower on computers. Look for the computer supplier who also has free software.

At least here in England some companies offer loads of extrs (like family tree maker) but ask yourself are you really going to get much joy from them? Many software titles are old programs that you are likely to get at a shop's bargain section anyway - or almost an identical one from a rival company. Only look at bundled package if you are deciding between two equally good computers!!

If you are buying a ready-made computer, you can usually expect an operating system. Other ''standard'' software packages usually include a trial periods of ISP and virus checker. Some better software packages may offer an office suite, such as MS Works and ready installed free firewall and anti-spam/spyware programs (free or trial versions)so you are protected from malware straight away.

A PC bundle might even contain ''free'' scanner and printer, but ultimately YOU are paying for it. It might seem to work out cheaper than the cost of scanner and printer separately, but check that you are happy with the quality and running cost - bundled hardware is often either flimsy, printer are results poor or buying ink is very expensive, or both, or in case of, say cameras, the resolution is so very poor - don't expect any (useful) manuals! Somewhere the manufacturer has to cut corners!

The problem is you look and you see a new technology will come out soon or the price will drop on a current one. So you wait a coupple of months and oh dear there is something new and faster, so you wait for it to get cheaper and you get into a purpetual cycle of doom. The real answer is get it when you need it. Christmas is often a good time and just after because thats when all the deals come out but i would advise you spend 800 (if you dont need a new screen) annd a bit more if you need a screen. This is quite pricy but if you search around you should get something pretty lasting.

There are so many computers on the market that look great, smell great, and look good on paper. Check for what you want though.

If you're a hardcore gamer, build one yourself. That way is super cheap and not overpriced like buying a prefabbed one like HP, Dell, Sony, and Gateway. Most of the computer distributers mark up the price by 200% or more and try to include "free" stuff when you buy. Besides the day you buy, it is considered old and almost priceless.

Agreed. Never buy version 1.0 of anything, wait at least for v1.1